D1 girls lacrosse poised to keep Portsmouth from running title streak to 3

The Portsmouth High School girls lacrosse team has made itself right at home in Division I.

In three seasons since moving up, the Clippers have been in the finals each year, winning the title in the last two, while going undefeated in 2025 and losing just three games against division opponents in that time.

But while Portsmouth returns almost its entire championship squad, there are a handful of teams who could make a run at another title a little tougher. That list includes Souhegan, last year’s runner-up, along with Pinkerton, Bishop Guertin, Londonderry and Exeter.

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While those teams will be fighting for the top spots in the playoffs, there are a handful of other teams that will battle for the remaining postseason spots. Bedford and Nashua South have been perenial playoff teams while Windham reached the playoffs in its first year in the division. Dover and Salem should also be in the hunt for the playoffs.

Favorite

Portsmouth (20-0 in 2025, won D1 title): After a dominant run in D2, the Clippers haven’t missed a beat since moving up to D1 in 2023. Portsmouth graduated just two seniors from last season’s undefeated championship team, and while one of those two was Morgan Ruhnke, the Clippers have the firepower back to fill the gaps.

It starts at the midfield, where senior Ginger Vinciguerra and juniors Emery and Raegan Lawton are back, while seniors Addie Delisle and Lily Patterson and junior Georgia Bouvier return at attack.

Junior Liv Russo (attack) and sophomore Elliot Blenkinsop (midfield) also return while sophomores Ellie Patrick (midfield), Breleigh Vischer (attack) and Molly Malinsowski (attack) will be in the mix.

Leading the defense will be senior goalie Sage Bussiere, along with seniors Ava Barrows and Maddy Houghton and junior Hailey Stallkamp. Senior Lily Remsen, junior Izzy Getman and sophomore Ava Brunelle also return on defense while junior Tessa Breshnahan will have a chance to contribute.

Challengers

Souhegan (14-4, lost in final): The Sabers got back to the title game for the first time since winning D1 in 2017 and gave Portsmouth a run before ultimately coming up short.

Despite losing five key seniors, Souhegan is a great spot to go on another run. Leading the way for the Sabers will be junior midfielders Izzy Stevenson, Libby Kennedy and Lanai Hickman, who will be joined by senior Haley Christianson and sophomore Meredith Heimarck.

Sophomores Emersynn Curran and Averie Curran both return to lead the attack for the Sabers while seniors Eva Stiles and Marley Bacon and junior Sophie Jacobs return on defense. Senior Molly Benson steps in at goalie for Souhegan.

Pinkerton (16-4, lost in semifinal): The Astros were just minutes away from getting to the title game last season. Pinkerton has the core returning to be in the mix to get there again, despite graduating nine seniors, including the program’s leading scorer in Hannah Lisauskas.

The Astros return a solid group on defense, led by seniors Parker Knowlton, Lexi Last and Cali Lockwod and junior Cora Udina while junior Paige Fenner steps in at goalie. Juniors Elianna Henry and Olivia Montmarquet are also back on defense while sophomore Regan Covino and senior Adelina Judge (goalie) will be in the mix.

Senior Francesca Doyle and juniors Ashley Clouthier and Sookie Folsom are back to lead at midfield while senior Melayna Marra and juniors Rylee Robinson and Ava Michelinie will also return at midfield. Senior Avery Kench and freshmen Ashley Morrison and Lea Michelinie will have a chance to contribute.

The Astros’ attack will be led by junior Delaney Summers while senior Delen Jones and freshmen Grace Morrow will also see time.

Contenders

Bishop Guertin (10-7, lost in quarterfinal): Last season, the Cardinals came up short of the semifinals for the first time since moving up to D1 in 2015. Despite graduating 10 seniors, Bishop Guertin has a group returning that can get it back there.

The Cardinals’ strength is at midfield, where seniors Abby Lynn and Bella Dawson and juniors Lola Dumont and Charlotte Accomando return. Senior Avry McKiernan, junior Ava Brennan and sophomore Mia Yakuboff also return at midfield while freshmen Kaylee Cruikshank, Mckensey Roedel and Leah O’Block will also be in the mix.

Junior Camryn Lerighton returns on attack while senior Charlee Priest and freshman Samantha Butler will look to contribute.

The defense will be led by senior Sydney Brophy and junior Sophia Harrington along with senior Olivia Baker and sophomore Amelia Domingo. Sophomore Emma Smith steps in at goalie while freshman Ayla Kempstey will see time as well.

Londonderry (6-11): The Lancers had a lot of tough luck last season, losing four games by one goal and another by two. With 11 starters returning, Londonderry looks like a team capable of a run.

Senior Annabelle Melia and juniors Lexi Padykula and Cora Rogers return on attack with seniors Lindsay LaBossiere and Lily Ciarametaro will also be involved on attack. Senior Eres Delorey and juniost Summer Butler and Addison Doyle are back at midfield while junior Avery Callahan will have a chance to contribute.

The defense will look to senior goalie Abbigail Cook along with seniors Madison Grennon and Avery Stowell and juniors Mel Kowack and Molly Leone while junior goalie Molly Tharrington and senior Abby Ramshaw will also see time.

Sophomore Molly Connors and junior Cece Lawyer will both see time at midfield and defense while freshmen Hayley Doyle and Emerson Presher will look to contribute on defense.

Exeter (15-5, lost in semifinal): The Blue Hawks got to the final four ast year for the first time in 10 seasons, but graduated eight seniors, many of whom were key contributors.

Exeter has a strong core coming back to go for another run, led by seniors Phoebe Christenson and Racquel Battle on attack, seniors Marissa Latini and Molly Byrne (goalie) o ndefesne, and junior Grace McIlroy and sophomores Riley Benevides and Claire Wilhelm at midfield.

Seniors Brooke Battle and Josephine Vadala, junior Kelsey Howard and sophomore Josie Drunsic will also be back on attack, with sophomore Evie Lafreiner and freshman Makayla Sprague also in the mix.

Also returning on defense will be senior Lizzie DeLello and junior Izzy Vadala with sophomores Anna Higgins and Kaya Cargill will be looked to to contribute. Freshmen Avery Carrigan and Addy Gwinn will see time at midfield.

Nashua South (14-5, lost in quarterfinal): After graduating a number of talented players over the last few years, the Panthers will look to reload this season while still competing for a playoff spot.

Juniors Nitzann Alkalay and Karina Santana and sophomore Maddie Langer are back on defense while sophomore Emma Herlihy takes over at goalie. Senior Nicole De Jesus, junior Bella Hwalek and sophomore Hailey Cote will look to contribute on defense as well.

Wylie Hart is back at attack as the lone returning senior and she’ll be joined by junior Isabel Picanco and sophomores Molly Mullaney, Aubrey Rose and Olivia St. Hilaire. Freshman Gemma Williams will also see time on attack.

Sophomores Carly Benzekri, Briley Landsteiner and Lexi McGuire all return to lead the midfield for South.

Bedford (9-8, lost in quarterfinal)

Dark Horse

Salem (5-13): The Blue Devils haven’t been to the postseason since 2014, but with a lot of experience returning all over the field, Salem has a chance to do so this season.

A core group of seniors leads the way, including goalie Olivia Schoenrock, Heather Lee O’Rourke and Mave Shpak on defense. Katie Wood will look to lead the attack while seniors Nicole Ringdahl and Olivia Defrancesco return at midfield.

Junior Abby Jose and sophomore Morgann Raskow are also back at midfield while sophomore Lily Beely and freshman Lia Bokuniewicz will look to contribute. Sophomore Althea Schaefer returns at attack and will be joined by sophomore Brianna Messina while sophomore Seriyah Casado is back on defense.

Rest of Field

Windham (7-10, lost in quarterfinal): The Jaguars were a playoff team, and won a playoff game, in their first season in D1.

As they try to do it again, they’ll turned to a trio of seniors in Anna Hartmann (midfield), Ella Gallinelli (midfield) and Kiley Candon (attack) and junior Kiera Lee (attack). Also returning are sophomores Ally Hartmann (midfield) and Lyla Filadoro (goalie).

Concord (1-15): The Crimson Tide have a big group returning that will look to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Leading the way on defense are seniors Leah Foulds and Macey Sprague and juniors Emelia Raimo, Elizabeth Thompson and goalie Tadu Sirois. Senior Ava De Luca, junior Katelyn Fennelly and freshman Mia Gratton (goalie) will have a chance to contribute.

Senior Amelia Crumrine and junior Malie Ramshaw are back on attack while junior Avah Ascani and Olivia Page also return. Freshman Katie Komorek will also see time. Juniors Brooke Nelson and Sydney Brown will return at midfield along with junior Hannah Barnewell. Seniors Elliana Wing and Clara McHugh and freshmen Anna Edwards and Sophie McNair will also be in the mix at midfield.

Dover (7-10, lost in prelim)

Manchester Central-West (4-13)

Nashua North (1-11)

Postseason Predictions

• Teams (nine): Bedford, Bishop Guertin, Exeter, Londonderry, Nashua South, Pinkerton, Portsmouth, Salem, Souhegan.
• Final four: Bishop Guertin, Pinkerton, Portsmouth, Souhegan.
• Championship: Portsmouth over Souhegan.